Many deep apologies for the lateness, and shortness of this
chapter. The next one will make up for it, I promise. Thank you
to everyone who reads this, even if you don't reply or comment. :)
----
Chapter 16
----
"Azura!!"
"Pippin!!"
The initial rush made Azura dizzy, and she felt her shoulder slam
into a wall, sending her tumbling in circles through the air.
"Caveo es!!" Azura shouted, and she came to an utter halt, in mid air,
her body in a pained arched, her eyes cast to a endless depth beneath
her as she watched Pippin falling beneath her.
She reached out and grasped his arm with both hands, bringing him to
a halt, searching his face with hers. "Are you ok?" She muttered
lightly, through strain of holding him.
"T-t-terrified!" He replied, clinging to her with all his strength.
She could tell he was dreadfully afraid of heights.
Then again, so was she. Her stomach gave a lurch as she looked down
up again, which was actually down, since she was suspended upside down.
"Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no..." Came Sam's frantic voice high above
them, somewhat faint, but his sobbing was evident. "..oh..no..me dears
..oh no..."
"Azura!" Came Frodo's voice, and he sounded like he was in pain
almost.
"Pippin!" Merry and Legolas echoed.
Azura gave a grunt, then shouted, "We're ok! Well....somewhat...We're
stuck!"
She looked back down to Pippin, whom she held tightly, whom had tears
streaming down his face, as he pleaded, "Please do not let me fall...
please..."
Azura shook her head, feeling a deep pity and love for him, as such a
close friend she would have ever hoped to have, "I'd never. Not as
long as I can hold you, I won't!"
"RISE!" Boomed Gandalf's voice from high above, echoing over and over
in the walls of the well around them.
A strong gust of wind rushed up at Azura and Pippin, and they
rocketed upward, until they shot out of the well and landed in a
tangled heap on the stony floor.
Just as Azura and Pippin sat up, they were nearly knocked over again
by Sam and Merry hugging them.
Merry's arms were tight around her, and he kissed her cheek. "Please
do not do that again! I feared the worst!"
"I won't..promise.." Azura mumbled into his shoulder, hugging him
back.
He released her, then Sam hit her with a hug, nearly knocking her
back down. He was mumbling incoherently and sobbing into her shoulder.
"It's ok! It's ok!" She cooed, hugging him tightly back, "I'm ok...
Please...you'll soak my shirt!"
Sam gave a whimper that could have been a laugh, and moved to sit a
few feet away, red-nosed and red-eyed, sniffling, but calming down.
Azura was about to stand, before she saw Frodo staring at her with a
pained expression.
His eyes were filled with tears, and he had a miserable look on his
face.
Azura stood slowly, ignoring the pain in her leg, and limped over to
him, and put a hand to his cheek, "Frodo..."
He embraced her tightly, shaking lightly. Was he afraid? Was he
crying? She didn't know. She only hugged him back, silent, unsure
of the emotions surging through. She felt sad, because he seemed to
be, she was scared, still shaky from her fall, but also, a different
feeling also hung inside her. A fear, not about almost dieing, but
instead, from almost leaving Frodo in death. In death, she couldn't
protect him. She couldn't make him happy, or smile.
"I couldn't...Azura..." He murmured in her ear, "I can't...lose
you.."
Tears stung her eyes. He needed her. She didn't know why. Did he
love her? Is that what she had been feeling for him? Love?
He pulled away from her, shaking his head. "I can't lose you.
Azura...can I ask something of you?"
All around them, everyone was silently watching the two. The room
was silent eexcept for the occasional sniffle from Sam.
Azura nodded, feeling a tear snake it's way down her cheek. "Anything."
Frodo slowly took both of Azura's hands into his own, and knelt
slowly to the floor, onto both his knees, looking up at her with
a dirtied, trail-worn face. His blue eyes shone brightly up at her.
He drew a deep sigh, and said, "Ever since I met you first, I have
thought you to be a interesting person, and many times you have
stepped in and saved my life."
Another tear fell from her eye, and snaked around her cheek.
She gave a weak smile, but a deep red blush was coming to her cheeks.
Frodo squeezed her hands softly in his, and continued, " You are
brave, and a wonderful friend. You are caring, and beautiful, and
I love you. I...I..." He paused, his voice faltering a little, "...
I.. It would be my honor, and my joy if you would marry me, Azura."
Azura let out a surprised gasp, and tears flowed freely down her
cheeks. She crouched slowly, down upon her knees and embraced Frodo.
"...I will." She said softly, half crying.
All around them, the hobbits errupted into laughter and shouts of
happiness.
Frodo pulled away from her, and placed his finger beneath her chin,
and tilted her face up to his. He kissed her softly, and Azura kissed
him softly back.
"Foolish hobbits! Quiet down! We have made enough racket to wake the
dead..." He shouted to the three, and eyeing Azura and Frodo with a
curious glint in his eyes, "Let the two have peace together now, and
off to bed you all...We are only resting for a few hours now.."
As Frodo kissed her, his hands were carresing her shoulders, but when
his left hand stumbled over her wounded shoulder, she let out a cry
of pain.
"Ow!" She cried, and pulled back from him, looking to her shoulder.
She pulled the fabric of her shirt down over her shoulder, revealing
a bad scrape.
"I'm sorry..." Frodo mumbled, his fingers lingering near the wound,
as if he were trying to figure a way to help her.
She shook her head, and gave a weak laugh, "I'm okay. Really." She
lifted her shirt back onto her shoulder, then reached for her bag,
which was nearby. She pulled a thick cloak from it, the one she used
when it was very cold, and laid into out onto the ground, which from
just sitting, wasn't too easy.
"Come on, you have to rest some, Frodo." She said, urging him to
lay down.
He complied, laying down onto his sides, the reached up for her to
lay next to him.
She smiled, then settled next to him, as he put an arm over his side.
She nestled her face into his chest, and closed her eyes. She felt so
warm next to him, and she breathed deeply, and sighed into the fabric
of his coat.
Frodo gently kissed the top of Azura's head, then closed his eyes,
with his chin pressed to her forehead, and off into sleep.
---
Frodo lay awake a long while after Azura drifted to sleep. Everyone
else had settled somehwere and went to sleep, all except Gandalf,
whom remained awake, keeping gaurd. He was resting on his elbow,
looking down at Azura.
He couldn't believe what he had done. He had asked her to marry him.
He didn't have anything to offer her, no ring, no wealth or even a
home, only himself. And she accepted. But now what? He wasn't even
sure he would survive this journey to Mordor...He didn't want to
leave Azura a widow, but he didn't want to wait. For all he knew,
sometime soon he could be killed, and he wanted Azura to know he
loved her, and he wanted to marry her. Maybe...Maybe in Lothlorien
they'd exchange vows, and after Mordor, if he survived, he could
take her back to the Shire...and start a life, and maybe a family
together.
It was like a candle in a sea of darkness to him, a possible life
with Azura. So much grief and sorrow had befallen him on this trip,
but with Azura by his side, everything seemed less painful, even the
weight of the Ring seemed less a burden with her next to him.
He looked down at her face as she slept, so peaceful and calm. She
always tried to act strong, playing things off, but he could tell
there were scars in her heart, a past she wouldn't share with him,
and something weighed heavily on her, aswell, but he couldn't guess
what. Though, in her sleep, she seemed almost at peace. He stroked
her cheek with his finger, and murmured, "...so beautiful.." and
then bent and kissed her cheek.
Azura gave a soft sigh in her sleep, and her fingers gripped his
coat tighter to her in her sleep.
"We will have to start again, soon..." Came Gandalf's soft, deep
voice.
"I know.. I am reluctant to wake her, though..." Frodo said, softly
frowning.
"Rest awhile longer... we will leave soon, though.." Gandalf said,
whom was sitting against the wall.
---
They had walked some twenty miles, heading upward, though they soon
began to grow weary again.
Azura had woken peacefully to find Frodo kissing her cheek. He had
held her hand the whole time as they were walking now, which made
her feel nice.
Sam now held Faile, whom often leapt from him to fly around in short
circles, and then land again, weary of being in the mines.
Azura knew how the bird felt. She, too, missed the sun and the wind.
A long while later, they came upon a large open hall, which seemed to
spread upward into darkness forever.
"We shall stay in this hall for the night. Lest us rest and eat."
Gandalf ordered, taking his pack off.
Azura went and took Faile from Sam, whom smiled at her, and kissed
her cheek.
Azura laughed, then pushed Faile up into the air and the bird took
off, high upward into the darkness. "Spread you legs a bit, girl.
Poor thing... She'll never forgive me if we don't get out of here
soon."
Pippin seemed to be discussing something with Gimli, whom soon began
to sing in a deep, sad voice.
Azura listened, but it seemed almost a blur to her, as she went and
sat next to Frodo.
Somewhere in the middle of the song, she drifted to sleep.
---
chapter. The next one will make up for it, I promise. Thank you
to everyone who reads this, even if you don't reply or comment. :)
----
Chapter 16
----
"Azura!!"
"Pippin!!"
The initial rush made Azura dizzy, and she felt her shoulder slam
into a wall, sending her tumbling in circles through the air.
"Caveo es!!" Azura shouted, and she came to an utter halt, in mid air,
her body in a pained arched, her eyes cast to a endless depth beneath
her as she watched Pippin falling beneath her.
She reached out and grasped his arm with both hands, bringing him to
a halt, searching his face with hers. "Are you ok?" She muttered
lightly, through strain of holding him.
"T-t-terrified!" He replied, clinging to her with all his strength.
She could tell he was dreadfully afraid of heights.
Then again, so was she. Her stomach gave a lurch as she looked down
up again, which was actually down, since she was suspended upside down.
"Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no..." Came Sam's frantic voice high above
them, somewhat faint, but his sobbing was evident. "..oh..no..me dears
..oh no..."
"Azura!" Came Frodo's voice, and he sounded like he was in pain
almost.
"Pippin!" Merry and Legolas echoed.
Azura gave a grunt, then shouted, "We're ok! Well....somewhat...We're
stuck!"
She looked back down to Pippin, whom she held tightly, whom had tears
streaming down his face, as he pleaded, "Please do not let me fall...
please..."
Azura shook her head, feeling a deep pity and love for him, as such a
close friend she would have ever hoped to have, "I'd never. Not as
long as I can hold you, I won't!"
"RISE!" Boomed Gandalf's voice from high above, echoing over and over
in the walls of the well around them.
A strong gust of wind rushed up at Azura and Pippin, and they
rocketed upward, until they shot out of the well and landed in a
tangled heap on the stony floor.
Just as Azura and Pippin sat up, they were nearly knocked over again
by Sam and Merry hugging them.
Merry's arms were tight around her, and he kissed her cheek. "Please
do not do that again! I feared the worst!"
"I won't..promise.." Azura mumbled into his shoulder, hugging him
back.
He released her, then Sam hit her with a hug, nearly knocking her
back down. He was mumbling incoherently and sobbing into her shoulder.
"It's ok! It's ok!" She cooed, hugging him tightly back, "I'm ok...
Please...you'll soak my shirt!"
Sam gave a whimper that could have been a laugh, and moved to sit a
few feet away, red-nosed and red-eyed, sniffling, but calming down.
Azura was about to stand, before she saw Frodo staring at her with a
pained expression.
His eyes were filled with tears, and he had a miserable look on his
face.
Azura stood slowly, ignoring the pain in her leg, and limped over to
him, and put a hand to his cheek, "Frodo..."
He embraced her tightly, shaking lightly. Was he afraid? Was he
crying? She didn't know. She only hugged him back, silent, unsure
of the emotions surging through. She felt sad, because he seemed to
be, she was scared, still shaky from her fall, but also, a different
feeling also hung inside her. A fear, not about almost dieing, but
instead, from almost leaving Frodo in death. In death, she couldn't
protect him. She couldn't make him happy, or smile.
"I couldn't...Azura..." He murmured in her ear, "I can't...lose
you.."
Tears stung her eyes. He needed her. She didn't know why. Did he
love her? Is that what she had been feeling for him? Love?
He pulled away from her, shaking his head. "I can't lose you.
Azura...can I ask something of you?"
All around them, everyone was silently watching the two. The room
was silent eexcept for the occasional sniffle from Sam.
Azura nodded, feeling a tear snake it's way down her cheek. "Anything."
Frodo slowly took both of Azura's hands into his own, and knelt
slowly to the floor, onto both his knees, looking up at her with
a dirtied, trail-worn face. His blue eyes shone brightly up at her.
He drew a deep sigh, and said, "Ever since I met you first, I have
thought you to be a interesting person, and many times you have
stepped in and saved my life."
Another tear fell from her eye, and snaked around her cheek.
She gave a weak smile, but a deep red blush was coming to her cheeks.
Frodo squeezed her hands softly in his, and continued, " You are
brave, and a wonderful friend. You are caring, and beautiful, and
I love you. I...I..." He paused, his voice faltering a little, "...
I.. It would be my honor, and my joy if you would marry me, Azura."
Azura let out a surprised gasp, and tears flowed freely down her
cheeks. She crouched slowly, down upon her knees and embraced Frodo.
"...I will." She said softly, half crying.
All around them, the hobbits errupted into laughter and shouts of
happiness.
Frodo pulled away from her, and placed his finger beneath her chin,
and tilted her face up to his. He kissed her softly, and Azura kissed
him softly back.
"Foolish hobbits! Quiet down! We have made enough racket to wake the
dead..." He shouted to the three, and eyeing Azura and Frodo with a
curious glint in his eyes, "Let the two have peace together now, and
off to bed you all...We are only resting for a few hours now.."
As Frodo kissed her, his hands were carresing her shoulders, but when
his left hand stumbled over her wounded shoulder, she let out a cry
of pain.
"Ow!" She cried, and pulled back from him, looking to her shoulder.
She pulled the fabric of her shirt down over her shoulder, revealing
a bad scrape.
"I'm sorry..." Frodo mumbled, his fingers lingering near the wound,
as if he were trying to figure a way to help her.
She shook her head, and gave a weak laugh, "I'm okay. Really." She
lifted her shirt back onto her shoulder, then reached for her bag,
which was nearby. She pulled a thick cloak from it, the one she used
when it was very cold, and laid into out onto the ground, which from
just sitting, wasn't too easy.
"Come on, you have to rest some, Frodo." She said, urging him to
lay down.
He complied, laying down onto his sides, the reached up for her to
lay next to him.
She smiled, then settled next to him, as he put an arm over his side.
She nestled her face into his chest, and closed her eyes. She felt so
warm next to him, and she breathed deeply, and sighed into the fabric
of his coat.
Frodo gently kissed the top of Azura's head, then closed his eyes,
with his chin pressed to her forehead, and off into sleep.
---
Frodo lay awake a long while after Azura drifted to sleep. Everyone
else had settled somehwere and went to sleep, all except Gandalf,
whom remained awake, keeping gaurd. He was resting on his elbow,
looking down at Azura.
He couldn't believe what he had done. He had asked her to marry him.
He didn't have anything to offer her, no ring, no wealth or even a
home, only himself. And she accepted. But now what? He wasn't even
sure he would survive this journey to Mordor...He didn't want to
leave Azura a widow, but he didn't want to wait. For all he knew,
sometime soon he could be killed, and he wanted Azura to know he
loved her, and he wanted to marry her. Maybe...Maybe in Lothlorien
they'd exchange vows, and after Mordor, if he survived, he could
take her back to the Shire...and start a life, and maybe a family
together.
It was like a candle in a sea of darkness to him, a possible life
with Azura. So much grief and sorrow had befallen him on this trip,
but with Azura by his side, everything seemed less painful, even the
weight of the Ring seemed less a burden with her next to him.
He looked down at her face as she slept, so peaceful and calm. She
always tried to act strong, playing things off, but he could tell
there were scars in her heart, a past she wouldn't share with him,
and something weighed heavily on her, aswell, but he couldn't guess
what. Though, in her sleep, she seemed almost at peace. He stroked
her cheek with his finger, and murmured, "...so beautiful.." and
then bent and kissed her cheek.
Azura gave a soft sigh in her sleep, and her fingers gripped his
coat tighter to her in her sleep.
"We will have to start again, soon..." Came Gandalf's soft, deep
voice.
"I know.. I am reluctant to wake her, though..." Frodo said, softly
frowning.
"Rest awhile longer... we will leave soon, though.." Gandalf said,
whom was sitting against the wall.
---
They had walked some twenty miles, heading upward, though they soon
began to grow weary again.
Azura had woken peacefully to find Frodo kissing her cheek. He had
held her hand the whole time as they were walking now, which made
her feel nice.
Sam now held Faile, whom often leapt from him to fly around in short
circles, and then land again, weary of being in the mines.
Azura knew how the bird felt. She, too, missed the sun and the wind.
A long while later, they came upon a large open hall, which seemed to
spread upward into darkness forever.
"We shall stay in this hall for the night. Lest us rest and eat."
Gandalf ordered, taking his pack off.
Azura went and took Faile from Sam, whom smiled at her, and kissed
her cheek.
Azura laughed, then pushed Faile up into the air and the bird took
off, high upward into the darkness. "Spread you legs a bit, girl.
Poor thing... She'll never forgive me if we don't get out of here
soon."
Pippin seemed to be discussing something with Gimli, whom soon began
to sing in a deep, sad voice.
Azura listened, but it seemed almost a blur to her, as she went and
sat next to Frodo.
Somewhere in the middle of the song, she drifted to sleep.
---
